Distinctives of my fellowship

[jlujan69]

The church I attend is Pentecostal, so not suprisingly, we have beliefs common to all Pentecostals. Aside from this, however, we also have beliefs that set us apart from our fellow Pentecostals/Charismatics. I've already posted something similar on the Pent./Charis. forum and had some noteworthy responses, so I thought I'd post them here for non-Charismatic fundies to comment on. The distinctives I'm about to list, I believe, aren't necessarily unique to Pentecostalism. So, here they are.

1. Exclusive male leadership (women serve in the ministry, but not in any leadership capacity over the men)

2. While affirming that all blood washed believers are united into the Body of Christ, we still hold that "unity" amongst the individual Christian churches must be based upon common doctrine, not experience. Therefore....

3. We don't participate at the church level in any inter-denominational services/functions, though individual members are free to do so.

4. For those in ministry: no going to the movies, renting, or downloading them; must have internet filter; while not forbidden from watching tv, they cannot own one (for members, these conditions don't apply).

5. Dead set against reconciliation or ecumenical talks with Rome (for reasons I can't state out of consideration for Catholics on these boards and in keeping with Forum rules).

6. Going to seminary is not a requirement for being a pastor because all academic and practical training is done through discipleship.

7. Charisma Magazine pages are ideally suited to start fires with but not much else........well, this one isn't actually one of the distinctives. :P

So, what do you non-Charismatic fundies think?

[kidsminister]

The church I attend is Pentecostal, so not suprisingly, we have beliefs common to all Pentecostals. Aside from this, however, we also have beliefs that set us apart from our fellow Pentecostals/Charismatics. I've already posted something similar on the Pent./Charis. forum and had some noteworthy responses, so I thought I'd post them here for non-Charismatic fundies to comment on. The distinctives I'm about to list, I believe, aren't necessarily unique to Pentecostalism. So, here they are.

1. Exclusive male leadership (women serve in the ministry, but not in any leadership capacity over the men)

2. While affirming that all blood washed believers are united into the Body of Christ, we still hold that "unity" amongst the individual Christian churches must be based upon common doctrine, not experience. Therefore....

3. We don't participate at the church level in any inter-denominational services/functions, though individual members are free to do so.

4. For those in ministry: no going to the movies, renting, or downloading them; must have internet filter; while not forbidden from watching tv, they cannot own one (for members, these conditions don't apply).

5. Dead set against reconciliation or ecumenical talks with Rome (for reasons I can't state out of consideration for Catholics on these boards and in keeping with Forum rules).

6. Going to seminary is not a requirement for being a pastor because all academic and practical training is done through discipleship.

7. Charisma Magazine pages are ideally suited to start fires with but not much else........well, this one isn't actually one of the distinctives. :P

So, what do you non-Charismatic fundies think?

Since I'm Pentecostal (A/G), I'll bite:

1. Nope! I'm a woman, and a licensed pastor.

2 & 3. Nope again...we believe that we are all part of the body of Christ, and have participated in events where we've worked together to help the community...

4. As a minister, I go to movies, and I am online (duh!), and I own and watch a t.v. The Holy Spirit in me convicts me and tells me what I should and should not watch, not my church!!

5. Don't know - my senior pastor and the local Catholic priest are part of the ministerial association together - haven't heard of any reconciliation talks with Rome, but we don't automatically shun all Catholics...

6. Ding, ding! Attending seminary is not a requirement for us, either, unless we want to get a Master's degree. Then grad school of some kind is a must :) . But we can be a pastor without one.

7. I like reading Charisma, but mostly to read all the nasty "letters from readers." They make me laugh. So do the pictures of Jan Crouch in her cotton-candy hair. My church doesn't take a stance for or against the magazine...some people read it; others don't.

[e=mv^2]

1 - “Let the woman learn in silence, with all subjection. But I do not allow a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, was in the transgression” (1 Tim. 2:11-14).

“Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak: but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also says the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:34-37).
Is that the very word of God? (That is a yes or no question.)

4. For those in ministry: no going to the movies, renting, or downloading them; must have internet filter; while not forbidden from watching tv, they cannot own one (for members, these conditions don't apply).

This sounds like legalism to me.
Where is the virtue if there is no opportunity for vice? Can you be in the world but not of it if you are eliminating much of the culture that effects your congregation? Can you know what they are being exposed to? Sounds like an 80 lb pacifist to me.

5. Dead set against reconciliation or ecumenical talks with Rome (for reasons I can't state out of consideration for Catholics on these boards and in keeping with Forum rules).
I doubt that rome is wearing out the phones calling. Just kidding!

6 - Ours is a very simple religion. You do not need to know advanced mathematics or read classical literature to understand or preach it.

[TwinCrier]

It all sounds good to me jlujan69. If it weren't for the "speaking in tongues is evidence of the Holy Spirit" thing I would probably be Pentecostal myself.

[jlujan69]

1 -

Is that the very word of God? (That is a yes or no question.)
Yep, sure is.


This sounds like legalism to me.
Where is the virtue if there is no opportunity for vice? Can you be in the world but not of it if you are eliminating much of the culture that effects your congregation? Can you know what they are being exposed to? Sounds like an 80 lb pacifist to me.
This does cause some "shaking of heads" when I tell brethren from other churches. There are valid arguments against this policy, to be sure. I simply chalk this one up to a moral choice made by headship. I've personally chosen to forego these things, though not required to. I can say that I've been better off by doing so.


I doubt that rome is wearing out the phones calling. Just kidding!
True, but here in Guam, which is heavily RC, when we street preach on certain topics, a few members of that faith, do express their displeasure at what's said. Mostly though, our street evangelism goes off without a hitch being that, unlike many areas in the States, we in Guam don't need a permit for public preaching!
6 - Ours is a very simple religion. You do not need to know advanced mathematics or read classical literature to understand or preach it. Agreed. In fact, when it comes to minstering per se, each time you witness to someone, it can be said that you're acting as both minister and prophet.

[Albion]

1. Exclusive male leadership (women serve in the ministry, but not in any leadership capacity over the men)


Women in ordained ministry is contrary to scripture.


2. While affirming that all blood washed believers are united into the Body of Christ, we still hold that "unity" amongst the individual Christian churches must be based upon common doctrine, not experience. Therefore....

3. We don't participate at the church level in any inter-denominational services/functions, though individual members are free to do so.


OK


4. For those in ministry: no going to the movies, renting, or downloading them; must have internet filter; while not forbidden from watching tv, they cannot own one (for members, these conditions don't apply).


Can't see any sense in that.


5. Dead set against reconciliation or ecumenical talks with Rome (for reasons I can't state out of consideration for Catholics on these boards and in keeping with Forum rules).


Agreed.


6. Going to seminary is not a requirement for being a pastor because all academic and practical training is done through discipleship.


Not a requirement but a good idea, at least some directed, formal instruction.


7. Charisma Magazine pages are ideally suited to start fires with but not much else........well, this one isn't actually one of the distinctives. :P


I don't care for it, but being non-Pentecostal, I supposed I wouldn't!

[holo]

I wish they had this rule: anyone in ministry must live on the street for no less than, but no limited to, one year, without money and without the support of other church members. No bible or seminary allowed. Clothes must be exclusively old and worn. Must sleep on benches during the winter. Members of the congregation are not allowed to make contact with you.

I'm pretty sure that'd teach them a thing or two about the need for rules to keep people in check.